Chapter Nine - Blowing off Steam

...There's got to be some angst and such to test the love between Evfra and Sara right? Yes, I am evil...muahaha! :3 But it will all be worth it, I promise ;D


Okay, this was bad...scratch that, this was the worst!

Sara, Cora, and Jaal were currently stuck in some sort of immobilizing force field while the Archon made off with a sample of her own blood and left a biological transmitter as a surprise present. 'Excellent, absolutely fantastic.' She had been terribly worried that these missions were growing a bit stale, quite lovely that the Archon was eager to spice things up.

["Sara, might I suggest formulating a plan of escape?" SAM helpfully nudged]

'Ofcourse,' Sara sighed. "Alright SAM, what kind of force field are we up against here."

["Preliminary readings suggest that the containment field interacts with living matter," SAM informed]

"Living...where are you going with this SAM?" The young woman questioned, feeling a bit apprehensive.

There was a slight pause before SAM added, ["If you were to expire, the field around you will extinguish."]

"Um, expire?" Sara grimaced.

["As you know, my access to your physiology allows me to enhance your vital signals when required...I can also do the opposite," SAM expounded.]

"Whoa there SAM. I've died before, I think it's a bad idea to make a habit out of it!" Sara quickly countered.

["After stopping your heart, I would attempt to resuscitate, of course." SAM explained]

"I'd hope so," Sara frowned. "Are there any other options?" She asked in a hopeful tone.

["None that I can determine," SAM stated]

The young woman took in a deep breath, noting how nice it felt. "Alright," Sara exhaled. "Hey Cora, if I, you know...don't make it can you tell Scott," Sara paused before she added, "I'm sorry."

"I promise, Ryder," Cora replied strongly, though there was a slight crack in her voice.

"And Jaal, can you tell Evfra…that I..." Sara's voice now got caught up in her constricting throat. She recalled her last exchange with the leader. How loving he was, the warmth in those nebulous blue galaxy eyes of his as he caressed her cheek. Gods, he had even told her he wanted to court her! Sara swallowed the knot in her throat, she needed to return to him...Evfra was waiting for her answer.

Jaal eyes sparkled for he didn't need Sara to say it aloud, "I think you'll tell him what you need to, yourself."

"I hope so," the young woman sighed. She hadn't even kissed that grumpy angaran yet...

Sara closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, "Alright guys, time to reboot, again ."

Evfra, stockstill and silent, watched as internal resuscitation efforts were made upon Sara's unstirring lifeless body. The resistance leader had just received Jaal's report and jumped straight to the visor vid without reading the body of text. He really should have, for it would have prepared the startled angaran, a little bit...

Agony bloomed inside Evfra as he gazed upon the monitor with fixated horror. It was as if someone had thrusted a Firaan deep into his chest, stabbing it mercilessly into his anxious heart, then painfully rotating the blade.

First attempt, unsuccessful ...the angaran's gloved hand went to rest upon his chest, where his heart beated furiously, painfully.

Second attempt, unsuccessful ...How long could a human's brain go without oxygen? For an angaran it was not long at all, and Sara was now pushing through the third resuscitation attempt.

Third attempt, successful , Sara's eyes fluttered open as she gasped for air. Evfra had to lean back upon the desk behind him for support as his legs had gone weak.

Evfra felt like his world had been turned upside down, lit on fire, then returned to normal in the matter of minutes. With mounting anger, the leader thoroughly read the report before calling up the Tempest; blue ember flames burning furiously within his eyes.

Ryder's holographic form was instantly before him; she was safe and sound. Evfra would have let out a deep sigh of relief had he had not heard her next words.

"Hold on SAM, I need to talk to Evfra first," Sara remarked as she looked off camera, before returning her gaze back to the leader with a smile.

The statement was out of the angaran's mouth before he even realized, "You're getting rid of that implant."

Sara's brows rose in surprise, before dipping back down into a confused frown. "I'm not getting rid of SAM," the young woman replied calmly.

"It killed you!" Evfra snapped. The angaran was trying to keep his voice even, but the video was replaying in his mind, lingering on the moments where the AI efficiently snuffed the life out of Ryder, and it caused his voice to become stronger.

"Yeah, on my order," Sara explained as she crossed her arms, still frowning.

"Naive youthfulness and belief of invulnerability, you were unprepared and in the end had to gamble upon the AI," Evfra accused, the few strings tethering his composure together were starting to strain. "And what if you had returned, but with permanent damage? Neurological, cardiovascular, psychiatric; did you consider those ramifications?!" Evfra growled angrily.

"I knew all of that Evfra, I weighed the risks and as the leader, I took it. I'm not out here just gambling willy nilly and hoping for the best!" Sara rebuked, feeling her own temper rise. She didn't understand why Evfra was riding her so hard. Of course she checked for other avenues to get out of that barrier!

"You could have fooled me," Evfra bit back as his molten blue eyes watched her keenly. He needed to impress Sara upon the seriousness of her actions. Ryder needed to stop taking such risks, or one day her luck would run out. The leader had seen it too many times in his subordinates, all who've met their untimely demise following that path; Evfra couldn't lose her as well!

"That's enough," Sara growled as her knuckles turned white as she gripped the console. "We will discuss this further when I get back, General," The young woman stated through gritted teeth.

Evfra's molten blue eyes narrowed at Sara's sudden use of his title, 'two can play at that game.' "Very well, Pathfinder ," he responded coolly; and his holographic image vanished into thin air.

There was a moment of eerie silence, with just the lazy hum of the Tempest gliding through space before Liam whispered, "Why do I feel like mom and dad just got into a huge fight?" The remark earned him a sharp jab into his side by Cora's elbow.

Upon hearing Liam's jest, Sara grimaced and rubbed her forehead. "Lexi, please get me your strongest headache relieving concoction," she asked through the comm.

"That's called a baseball bat, Ryder," Gil's disembodied voice answered back.

"Ha! Good one," Peebee sniggered, earning herself an equally sharp jab from Cora's other elbow.

"I'm going to send this ship into the nearest black hole!" Sara threatened loudly.

"Please don't, Ryder," Kallo sighed.

It was supposed to be a happy wonderous reunion, like the ones you see in the movies where the romantic couple run towards each other in a green pasture, all in slow motion, with an orchestra made of pink cheeked cherubs playing in the background.

Well, not with Sara's luck. The young woman wrapped her white scarf securely around the top of her jacket and the sensation made her feel like she was preparing for battle. Sara could feel the molten blue stare of the resistance leader through the metal hull of the ship as the Tempest docked.

Half of her wondered what would happen if she just stayed holed up in her cabin...Evfra would probably find a way in, but not easily...Sara was almost tempted to try it, but after boosting about being a good leader, the young woman now had to follow through. Sara steeled herself and exited the Tempest.

It did feel like everything was in slow motion as they met each other at the docks. Evfra silently appraised Sara's eyes, overbright with emotion. He then noticed a few healing scratches along her right cheek. The angaran would have traced them lovingingly, had they not been at each other's throats

"You are still too young to fully grasp the entire situation," Evfra stated gruffly as he stayed his itching fingers by crossing his arms.

Sara rolled her eyes in response. "And when will you accept my leadership and the choices I make, General?" The young woman crossed her arms in turn as she frowned up at the scowling leader. "Once I'm old and decrepit?"

If Evfra was used to being openly honest with his feelings, he would have revealed why he was being so harsh on Sara. But as a General, the leader was not one to give emotional explanations to his soldiers. "I will continue to advise you until you have proven not to be so reckless with your life, especially since you are a leader. So if it's until you are as you said 'old and decrepit', so be it." Evfra answered gruffly in a tone with unusual sharp edge.

She had no idea of what he went through as he was forced to watch her die on a monitor, worrying to his wits end that the AI within her knew what it was doing and could bring her back unscathed.

"Oh that's it!" Sara stated as she cracked her knuckles in a row that made Evfra cringe.

The angaran paused in his lecturing to gape at Ryder. What was she doing with her bones!?

"You, me, training hall," the young woman pointed towards the blast doors. "Time to settle this once and for all General!"

"Fine!" His snarled as he led the way back to the resistance headquarters; Evfra was an angaran of action anyway. And once they reached the training ring, the leader barked out, "Everyone out!" Causing the dozen training members to flee like a spooked flock of gazelles.

"Why, don't want them to see me thoroughly thrash your ass?" Sara mused haughtily as she quickly limbered up.

Evfra released dubious snort in response, "I believe there is an idiom in your language," he began as he rolled his shoulders in turn. 'You've bitten off more than you can chew.'"

"Yeah, I have a habit of that, but I still end up winning," Sara remarked with anger embolden confidence. "Gloves off Evfra, I'm coming at you with everything I got!" The young woman added as she tore off her own gloves and scarf; tossing them aside without a care.

Evfra gritted his teeth, there was that bold arrogance he knew very well in Sara. His wise self warned that this was a terrible idea that could very well end badly. But, the angaran also felt the need to physically work this disagreement out. 'Blow off steam,' he believed was the term Jaal mentioned. Though Sara seemed to take things to the extremes.

"As you wish," Evfra scoffed in his deep aussie voice. "I should have known you to be a masochist," He added gruffly as he stripped off his own gloves.

"Oh, look at the kettle calling the pot black!" Sara rolled her eyes as she zipped open her jacket. She was wearing her neon blue, limited edition, Blasto athletic tank top over an ivory sports bra.

Evfra paused, he had not learned this idiom yet, but he was more mesmerized by Sara's sudden show of skin, than the english language. Blinking, the angaran quickly shook his head vigorously to regain his senses. He couldn't afford to get distracted during this spar. Out of all the challengers to have ever dueled him, it had to be Sara who unnerved him the most.

And unfortunately his instinct was well advised for the young woman snarled like a raging wild Challyrion as she launched herself at him with a biotic charge. Evfra really should have expected this, but when it came to Sara, she got him every. single. time.

"You surly arrogant ass!" Sara yelled with reckless abandon. She didn't care if this nulled the alliance, she was furious! And the young woman had tackled the surprised leader to the ground. But her win was short lived as the angaran came to his senses and entered battle mode.

Soon their spar unraveled into a power struggle to see who could get on top and have the other...

"Yield!" Evfra snarled, his blood hot and rushing through him as he found himself exerting more energy than he estimated to keep the young woman down.

"I yield to no one!" Sara snapped back, and with a thrust of biotics, sent the angaran flying off of her. The leader shook his head, momentarily stunned by her powerful move before lunging back to the center.

It came down to where Evfra dominated with power and reach, but Sara countered with speed, flexibility, and an incredible knack for slithering out of his grasps.

Panting, the two circled around one another, their eyes never wavered as they tried to sense out the slightest hint of a muscle twitch betraying the other's next move. And then, at the same time they lunged, meeting the other halfway as they locked into a grapple, until they both keeled over onto the mat. The two rolled about as their bodies pressed against each other, completely lost to everything else that was not their mingling form, until finally Evfra rolled on top and pinned Sara securely down.

"Ha!" Evfra breathed out in triumph as he crushed his hips into the young woman's, using his weight to finally anchor her down on the spot, capturing those slippery legs in between his muscular ones. His own prehensile feet grabbing her securely by the ankles. His large rough hands had her arms pinned at the wrists up above her head as Evfra's formidable presence loomed over her.

The angaran felt the slickness of the young woman's glistening skin. Then Sara' distinct scent started to gain a sweetened tart-like hint that filled Evfra's senses, causing his pupils to dilate. The angaran let loose an instinctive growl so guttural that his entire body reverberated, letting loose a pulse of electricity.

And then it happened, he heard a loud wonton moan escape from Sara. Tossing her head back, her spine arched upwards to crush her lower half into him; causing the angaran to groan huskily in response.

They both froze, panting as their chests heaved in unison while they stared at one another. Evfra realizing how their warm lower halves entwined; Sara realizing a hot and wet need now pooled between her legs.

The angaran's questioning molten blue eyes quickly searched hers for any sign to halt and back off. But instead he watched, transfixed, as Sara's slick pink tongue glided across her luscious lips, tantalizing him. And with a rumbling lustful growl, Evfra went after it. Dipping his mouth down to finally capture those plump lips into his.

Evfra cradled the young woman's upper lip between his own, before his warm slightly roughed alien tongue traced a long swipe. Sara responded in kind by tasting the leader's scarred lower lip, causing the angaran to shudder with pleasure as he groaned. He gently nipped her lip, before caressing for entrance.

Evfra's wondrously alien tongue entwined with Sara's, making the young woman moan into his mouth as he hungrily explored her own. The angaran rumbled deeply upon feeling her pleasurable response. Evfra's hands released her wrists to cradle Sara's back and neck. Quickly in turn, the young woman snaked her arms to his chest, pulling the angran closer by the front of his suit. Finally, Evfra broke their hungry kiss so that he could come up for air like a drowned sailor.

Sara moaned with abandon for this was nothing like her past lovers; awkward hesitancy and sloppy fondling. No, this was Evfra, an experienced alpha angaran dominating her hungrily as muscular arms firmly held her, while he tasted her like she was his last meal. The leader's alien hot tongue was now chasing the pulse up the side of her neck with one long stroke, before he began to nip and tease her skin; enjoying the taste of her sweet and salty sweat.

Any sound Sara made, Evfra responded in kind as he listened to her sensitive verbal cues and drew out more with such fervor. Stars, she made such wondrous noises! The angran reverberated with carnal growls at the gasps and mewls that escaped the young woman.

Evfra relished how Sara's soft warm body writhed underneath him. It was starting to untether his sensibility as his loins urged him onwards to finally claim this hot headed temptress who had ensnared him so fully. Evfra's fingers were now entwining into Sara's soft hair, cradling the back of her head, while his other hand supported the arch of her spine.

The angaran's weight began rocking forwards and backwards upon Sara as she felt a large pulsing bulge grow between his thick thighs. With every other roll of the Evfra's hips, a little spark was released, making Sara moan and arch with pleasure. Their bodies continued to undulate in unison with an unspoken lustful need for each other that had been denied for too long.

Sara's aphrodisiacal pheromones, lewd gasps, and sensual body were causing the muscular angaran to increase his tempo as he started to buck into her. Evfra would take her here, now, training hall be damned...but then there was a loud gasp and it wasn't from Sara…

Urza, having been cleaning out the male locker room as his punishment duties, finally exited into the training center only to find it completely deserted...apart from two figures at the center of the ring.

He gasped at the sight that met his eyes. Evfra and the Pathfinder were in a very...very compromising position. Their bodies nearly flushed against one another. The young woman's face had a reddish glow as she panted underneath the angaran, her hands tugging and pawing at his suit.

His leader's usually subdued gradient blue skin was now flushed in deep navy as his breath drew ragged. The recruit could hear the angaran's lustful growls from all the way over here, and sense a vibrant bioelectric field focused on stimulating the…

'Ohhhhh skkuttttt…' Urza internally screamed and made to turn around and hide in the locker room when both pairs of eyes spotted him; freezing his feet to the ground.

Evfra quickly rose to his feet and was about to extend his hand down to Ryder to help her up, but she was already sprinting down the hallway. Sara, with face as red as a tomato and hot like the sun, was running away as fast as humanly possible.

Evfra's molten blue eyes locked onto the recruit and gave him such a glare that would have put the remnant observers to shame. "Urza," the leader breathed lowly and dangerously. "You will be in charge of restroom duty...for another two full moons."

And as he passed by the trembling recruit, he placed a bare hand on Urza's shoulder. "Realize how fortunate you are...for I'm quite close to tearing this limb off," and his grip squeezed painfully tight. Evfra stormed off to take an ice cold shower; his pants achingly tight with each step.